mcbride



(No Model.) I

J. J. MOBRIDE.

HATAOHWAY FOR ELEVATORS. No. 447,196. Patented'f'eb. 24, 1891.

UNITED STATES JOHN J. MCBRIDE, OF RIDGEFIELD PARK, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNORTO HENRY I. COE, OF NEIV YORK, N. Y.

HATCH WAY FO R ELEVATORS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 447,196, dated February24, 1891.

Application filed January 21,1890. gel-a1 110327.621; (No model.) i

State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvementsin Elevators, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in those hoists or elevators inwhich'each hatchway is normally closed by a loose door known in thisspecification as a traveling door, which is picked up or lifted bodily,still maintaining its horizontal position by the ascending and returnedto its place by the descending cab. A consequence of this arrangement isthat the cab in ascending has its weight increased by the addition ofone traveling door after another and again correspondingly diminished onits return journey as it leaves door after door behind it. Thisdiscrepancy of weight is in the customaryarrangement of such doorsaggravated by the fact that each door above the cab is connected to alike door below the cab, which lower door is lifted along with the upperone, in order that the opening of a hatchway above the cab shall beaccompanied by the closure of one below it.

The object of my invention is to devise a means whereby the changingweight of the cab incident to these causes becomes automaticallycompensated by the attachment to and detachment from the counterpoise ofsupplementary weights.

The means employed by me for effecting the above purpose and theimprovements ancillary thereto are represented in the accompanyingdrawings, in which- Figure I is a partly-sectioned elevation of anelevator and hatch-doors-embodying my improvements. Fig. II is a sideview of a clip-j aw of one of my supplementary weights. Fig. III is adetailed top view of the metal guide and wear-shoe. Fig. IV is asectional view of the means for adjusting and fastening to an uppertraveling door one of the four cables by which the corresponding lowerdoor is suspended from it. Fig. V is a top view of the same. Fig. V1 isa sectional elevation of the door-carrying cradle. Fig. VII is anelevation of the clip-locking device.

-5 represents an elevator cab or cage, and 6 the guide frame or well inwhich it operates.

30 may be considered the ordinary cable for a counterpoise or weight 31.

32 represents a number of, upper hatchdoors of the loose or travelingtype and one of the series of lower hatch-doors, of which each of thelatter is suspended from one of the former by means of cables 43.

Vhen the cab has passed through the uppermost hatchway, all the doorsrest on a cradle 32, attached to the top of the cab, and these doors aredeposited one by one on their seats at the successive hatchways as thecab descends. At the instant that any of said upper doors comes to restin its hatchway its suspended mate or lower door finds a resting placeat the bottom of the well. Conversely as the cab ascends and liftssuccessively the doors at the several floors it raises at the same timethe corresponding doors of the lower series to close the hatchways belowit. Thus as it ascends it picks up the doors in pairs, and in buildingshaving many stories this materially increases the total weight on thecab and its lifting-cable and puts an undue tax on the motive poweremployed. To remedy this defect I have devised a system of supplementalweights, which as the counterpoise ascends become automatically engagedwith the lower end of the latter, so as to add their mass successivelyto the counterpoise at each successive ascent of the cab through therespective hatchways, and which as the couuterpoise ascends are in likebut reverse order automatically, one by one, released and held in placein their guideways in readiness for like service on redescent of thecounterpoise. To this end the counterpoise 31 has projecting downwardlyfrom it a spear or arrow shaped foot 35, and each supplementary weight34., except the lowest, is in like manner provided with similar spear orarrow shaped foot 35.

Each supplementary weight is at its upper end equipped with a clip,which consists of two L-shaped levels or jaws 36, between which the footof the member next above it is on the descending stroke of thecounterpoise thrust and by which it becomes gripped.

\Vhen the counter-weights are at rest at their proper respective placesin the guidcway 37, these jaws 36 or rollers 38 thereon are held apartby spring pins or bolts 30, so as to oceupy rests, recesses, or notches40 in the walls of said guideway, as shown atzr in Fig. 1, and

to thereby support the respective counterweights. Suppose now that thecab begins to ascend from its lowest position, and the coun- Io terpoise31 consequently begins to descend in its guideway, the arrangement ofthe parts is such that just as the cab picks up the first pair oftraveling doors the counterpoise-foot enters between the spring-jaws36,th rows back 15 stop pins or bolts 39, (see Fig. VII,) and, en-

gaging with the horizontal extensions ll of said jaws, withdraws therollers 38 from the recesses -10, thus releasing the counter-weight andpermitting it to descend with the engaged eounterpoise. The same actioncauses the jaws to close upon and grip the said foot 35, so as toincrease the weight of the counterpoise by the mass of saidcounter-weight. On the next counter-weight below being reached the spearof the already-engaged weight in like manner becomes engagedwith thejaws.

of said lower weight, and so on, the number of weights engaged beingmore or less and depending on the greater or less upward o flight of thecab.

At the reverse or ascending movement of the counterpoise whichaccompanies descent of the cab each counter-weight becomes automaticallydetached and retained at its proper 5 position. (See 50, Fig. I.) Bythismeans the changes of load upon the platform are merely those of thepersons or merchandise for which it is used.

In order to avoid concussion incident to 3 the impact of the cradle 33with the door next above it and of the several consecutive doors withone another, I provide butters, such as rubber balls 50, corks, leatherpads, cushio s, coiled or other springs.

42, Fig. III, represents a metal guide and wear shoe for the edges ofthe carryingdoors.

The cables 43, by which each several door of the lower series issuspended at proper dis- 5o tance from its mate of the upper series,have a polygonal collar 46, which, occupying a yoke 47, secured to theunder side of the door, holds the cable against twisting. Above collar-16 is a screw-head 46, which is engaged in a nut -15, having apolygonal head all. By turning said head to right or left the cable 13is drawn upward or downward until the proper relative separation of theupper and lower doors is secured.

Having thus described my invention, the following is what I claim as newtherein and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. The combination, with the series of traveling doors of an elevatorand with a counterpoise, of one or more supplementary weightsconstructed, substantially as described, with jaws on one member andfoot on the other member, so as to become automatically attached to saidcounterpoise on each descending and detached on each ascending journeyof the latter, for the purpose set forth.

2. The combination, with the elevator-cab and a series of travelingdoors and with a notched or recessed guideway, of a counterpoise armedat bottom with spear 35,and one or more supplementary counter-weights34, which are adapted to be automatically engaged with and disengagedfrom said counterpoise, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

The combination, with the main counterpoise of an elevator-car, ofsupplementary counter-weights, coupling devices on all of saidsupplementary weights, and armed jaws connecting with said couplingdevices and engaging with rests or notches in the guideframe.

-l. The pick-up supplementary counterweight Zl, having spear-shaped footand L-shaped levers or jaws 3G.

5. The combination, with the suspenders of a series of traveling doors32, of the adjusting and coupling device consisting of nut 41 1 45,screw-head l6, polygonal collar 46, and yoke 47.

G. In combination with the series of traveling doors, the counterpoise31, and the series of automatically engaging and disengagingsupplementary weights 3i, said counterpoise and each supplementaryweight, except the bottom one, having an arrow-shaped foot 35, and eachsupplementary weight having jaws 36, adapted to grasp such foot of themember immediately above it on descent of said memher and to be releasedtherefrom and engage in recesses of the guide-frame on ascent of saidmember, substantially as set forth.

7. In an elevator having a cradle on top of the elevator-cab and aseries of traveling hatchway-doors in the guide-shaft, the combination,with a counterpoise 31, having an arrow-shaped foot 35, and withrecesses at) in the guide-frame, of a series of supplementary weights,one for each pair of said doors, each weight, except the bottom one,having a like arrow shaped foot, and each weight having a pair of jaws36, adapted to grasp such foot of the member immediately above it ateach descent and to become released from said foot and engage in saidrecesses at each ascent of the counterpoise, said weight havingspringcatches 39, and the whole being arranged and adapted to operate asset forth.

JOHN J. MCBRIDE.

\Vitnessesz' HARRY E. KNIGHT, Gno. 1T. KNIGHT.

